The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-17
TO DEFEAT MR.. REED.
Ono OF the Charges Made at the
Knights Convention.
Barry and Bailey waging War on tho
Master Workman.
The Four congressmen who We're
Roycotted by the Knlghts.l

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 15.-The lOng-expected
ohtbreak In the Knights Of Labor general
assembly has come. The entire day today
was spent In hearing charges and counter
charges against the executive board and the
general officers. The debate was Of a highly
sensational nature.
Before the convention assembled and while
the delegates were arriving in this city there
were whispers Of certain charges against
the conduct Of two Of the members of the
executive board. The charges " ere not def
mite BY any means and no particular atten-
tion was paid TO them.
1t was pretty evident that the administra-
tion men had mapped out plan in the many
secret eaucuses held during the first days Of
the session. This plan has been sprung on
the convention In the shape Of a resolution
which in substance was that the general ex-
ecutive board be reduced to five members,
including the General Master Workman, the
members term Of Office to be reduced from
two to one year, they to be appointed by the
General Master Workman, subject to the
approval Of the general assembly.
Had bombshell exploded In the hall II
could not have caused more CONSERVATION
dluOik bUt Inc UDluntHS Oh tile
thing awed them for several moments The
surprise was so great that every man In the
convention, including Powderly, sat per-
fectly still.
The almost painful silence was broken by
the voice OF Delegate Lewis Of Ohio, who
asked for recognition. He began by stating
that the resolution looked very much like
stab at Barry and Bailey.
A. NJ. Dewey Of Detroit was asked to N
plain rumors TO the effect that he had said
lin a.. "A
Bailey while In Chicago and In this city.
Mr. Dewey said in substance that be had
made the statement that II would be for the
best interests OF the order that al lea-t
two Of the members Of the executive board
be retired at once. He said that be had
never said who the two were.
AT this point Barry flung the lie In the
teeth Of Dewey by the statement that he had
named him Barry as one OF the two. In
the excitement which followed a delegate
called for the ayes and nays on the previous
question. This brought Barry TO his feet
again.
lie rushed up the aisle from the rear Of
the hall, and when Ia close proximity to the
General Master Workman, he began a vehe-
ment harangue. He shook his fist at Pow
derly and other members Of the board. He
stated that there was scheme 10 rush the
resolution through without debate, and that
he was to be ignOminiOusy fired" without
chance to explain certain things.
After this the convention could do no less
than give both sides hearing, and The en-
tire day today has been spent is washing
dirty linen.
The rumOr was current here this morning
that Powderly had written his resignation
and threatened TO present 1t In case Barry
and Bailey were not got rid Of. POwderly
himself denies any thought Of resigning,
and his friends say he Is sure OF victory and
will not need 10 do so.
Early In today's session Barry and Bailey
gave II eut that they mad facts enough to
impeach the entire executive board. These
were called for and presented. John w.
Hayes, secretary Of the general executive
board, was the first target.
IL was charged that year ago last fall he
went TO Maine and used $4,000 Of the orders
money to defeat Congressman Reed.
Hayes was also charged with crooked
work In connection with the great South
western strike, when he and Tom Mcclure
had control OF affairs. 1t was alleged also
that Hayes kept his wife at Philadelphia at
the expense Of the order.
All these charges were explained away, or
attempted TO be explained, by Hayes. The
details Of the the first two transactions
would make too long story TO tell here.
Hayes and his friends claimed that every
thing had been done with the full sanction
| OF the executive board and that no money
had been Incorporated.
The debate was continued until adjourn
ment, and Will be resumed Monday. It Is
believed that the Powderly faction will win.
Powderly charges that Barry and Bailey en-
/ ployed stenographer, who was in reality a
| spy, and Oyerhauled POwderly's papers.
| MINNEAPOLIS, Mlnn., Oct 16-Probably
| a report will be made In executive session
| before the adjournment Of the Knights Of
Labor convention Of the political work OF
the order last year. The report will show
that the "enemies Of organized labor"
/ against whom IL was decided 10 bring 10 bear
the entire machinery Of the order were Ran
dali, Carlisle, Morrison and Reed. In each
| district, the fact was impressed upon mem-
| bers OF every local assembly that the fight was
| not political, but that the interests OF labor
imperatiyely demanded the individuals affect
ed should not be returned to Congress. The
assembly will probably adjourn sine die
Wednesday evening or Thursday noon.
CHICAGO, Oct. 16.-The action Of the Cen
eTal Assembly Of the Knights Of Labor at
Minneapolis. sustaining the action declaring
the local stock yards strike of and ordering
the strikers TO return, has given considerable
impetus to the movement in District Assem-
bly, 81. which includes all the stock yards
employees, TO go out Of the knights alto
gether, and TeOrganize as the central union
OF labor ORGANIZATIONS.